Biography | Nakea J. Barksdale

Nakea Barksdale counsels and defends clients in claims involving premises-related injuries, including slip/trip-and-fall accidents, negligent maintenance or repair, inadequate security and construction. She also focuses her practice in the areas of products liability, trucking and transportation, and matters related to the Consumer Protection Act.

After law school, Nakea began her career as a Public Defender, where she primarily handled criminal appeals in the state of New Jersey. She also co-founded the New Jersey Innocence Project, which was recently established to exonerate people who have been wrongfully convicted.

Committed to improving the representation of minorities in the legal profession, Nakea currently serves as Co-Chair for the Black Employee Resource Group (BRG) at Wilson Elser.

Education

Rutgers Law School (J.D., 2020)
- Senior Editor, Rutgers Race & The Law Review
Rutgers University (B.A., 2016)

Bar Admissions

New Jersey
Maryland

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court, District of Maryland

Professional Affiliations

Maryland State Bar Association
National Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division
Garden State Bar Association

Awards & Honors

National Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Power 100, 2022

Events

Nakea Barksdale counsels and defends clients in claims involving premises-related injuries, including slip/trip-and-fall accidents, negligent maintenance or repair, inadequate security and construction. She also focuses her practice in the areas of products liability, trucking and transportation, and matters related to the Consumer Protection Act.

After law school, Nakea began her career as a Public Defender, where she primarily handled criminal appeals in the state of New Jersey. She also co-founded the New Jersey Innocence Project, which was recently established to exonerate people who have been wrongfully convicted.

Committed to improving the representation of minorities in the legal profession, Nakea currently serves as Co-Chair for the Black Employee Resource Group (BRG) at Wilson Elser.

Grace & Barksdale Secure Defense Verdict in Airline Contract Dispute

Kathryn A. Grace (Partner-McLean, VA) and Nakea Barksdale (Associate-Baltimore, MD) secured a defense verdict in a breach of contract dispute where the plaintiff alleged he was incorrectly charged for a membership pass offered by our airline client. The plaintiff claimed that he intended to purchase a discounted membership pass but was charged for a higher-tier pass. Through meticulous cross-examination at trial, Nakea demonstrated that the plaintiff not only purchased the premium membership pass but also used its benefits immediately, booking a flight at a significantly reduced fare. Despite the plaintiff's argument, he was unable to provide any documentation to support his claim of an incorrect charge. The court ultimately ruled in favor of the airline, reinforcing the accuracy of its records and its fulfillment of the contractual terms.

Kathryn Anne Grace and Nakea J. Barksdale

Russell and Barksdale Compel Arbitration and Prevail in Complex Legal Dispute

Angela Russell (Partner-Baltimore, MD) and Nakea Barksdale (Associate-Baltimore, MD) achieved a significant defense victory for a general construction contractor in a complex legal dispute that began in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. The plaintiff filed a complaint alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment and negligence related to a home remodeling agreement, which included a roof installation, attic repair and other renovations. Angela and Nakea successfully filed a motion to dismiss the court case and a motion to compel arbitration based on an arbitration provision in the agreement. Once in arbitration, the defense team effectively demonstrated through expert and fact testimony that the contractor had fulfilled all contractual obligations and adhered to industry standards. The arbitrator ultimately ruled in favor of the contractor, dismissing all of the plaintiff’s claims.

Angela W. Russell and Nakea J. Barksdale